On this day four years ago, my day started off as any normal Saturday in January. Little did I know, it would be the day Lipstick & Ink® came to be - a day that would change me forever. Leading up to January 13, 2018, I had experienced an action-packed few...
personal thoughts
2021 Recap: 6 Reflections from the Year
As I write this on the last day of 2021, I find myself wondering how we’re already here. Another year passed, another on the horizon. I remember my high school Algebra teacher once saying how as we get older, the years seemingly go faster. She wasn’t wrong. I take...
2020 Reflections: A Year We’ll Never Forget
Every NYE, I like to take a moment to reflect on the year, to acknowledge my growth, to accept what didn’t go as planned, and to appreciate the life I am creating. I like to write these in my journal, as well as post them to the blog (as I did in my 2019 and 2018...
Life Lately: Volume 10 – The Book
BACKSTORY Since starting Lipstick & Ink, I’ve been able to reconnect with my inner writer, the part of me I suppressed for the majority of my 20s. You see, I’ve considered myself a writer since I was able to pick up a pen. And I’ve wanted to be an author ever...
Ending the Silence & Committing to Change
“Silence, especially in these times, is deafening.” ~ Vivianne Castillo I didn’t find out about George Floyd’s murder until the night after when I was watching ABC World News Tonight with David Muir. As I was finishing my dinner, I heard the words “I can’t breathe… I...
The Power of Impact: Volunteering in Rwanda & What It Meant to Me
On my 31st birthday last September, I was writing in my journal when I noticed a crinkled and stained piece of paper had fallen out. I picked it up and realized it was the bucket list I had written during my early years of college. As I read over my list, I noticed...
Top Reflections of the Decade
The last few days of December has always been a time I genuinely look forward to. After all of the holiday festivities and quality time with family and friends, I typically find myself back at home, able to pause and reflect on the last year. It’s so important to set...
13 Lessons I Learned to Live a Life of Fulfillment
“With age comes wisdom.” ~Oscar Wilde I view my life as my education and my experiences as my teacher. So while some may complain about getting older, I embrace it. I recently turned 31 and since my birthday, I’ve been thinking about how much I’ve grown and expanded...
Confession: 10 Reasons I’m Scared To Be a Mom
You read that title right - I am scared to be a mom. Let me give a little backstory first. Growing up, I loved babies. I loved being around them, holding them and playing with them. I thought I’d be married and be a mom by the time I turned 25. But the older I got,...
Life Lately: Volume 6 – Happy 1st Birthday, Lipstick & Ink
Today officially marks one year since I launched this little piece of the internet. Truthfully, it feels a lot longer than a year since I launched Lipstick & Ink, as I can’t quite remember what my life was like before it. Isn’t that crazy? I can still remember the...